Coyotes coach Dave Tippett tinkering with front lines

Assistant coaches congratulate Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett (center) after his 450th career win and 100th as a Coyotes coach following their 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils in their NHL game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 in Glendale.
(Photo:
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Experimentation with forward lines usually is synonymous with training camp and the early stages of the season, but the Coyotes are still mixing up their trios on the brink of the final week of the regular season.

"You know how I've always liked to have a couple pairs," coach Dave Tippett said. "There's a couple pairs that work together, and then you kind of filter guys in and out depending on rhythm, depending on special teams. There's a lot of factors that go into it, and that's every game. Every team has some interchangeable parts."

Still, the changes are at least partly reactive to the offensive struggles that have slowed the Coyotes the past week. It's not the effort that's worrying Tippett, though. Execution has been a sore spot.

"We can be better in the offensive zone, getting pucks stopped, making better plays," he said. "Our forecheck, we have the mind-set to forecheck hard, but we need to be more efficient. Everybody's going to work hard. It's what you do after that counts. We're missing a little 'after that counts.'"

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In times like this, chemistry among set lines may be the answer. But the Coyotes don't have that luxury. Instead, they're hoping the urgency of their situation will ignite their offense.

"Right now if you're in the defensive zone, you just want to get the puck out," winger Radim Vrbata said. "If you're in the neutral zone, you just want to get the puck in. And if you're in the offensive zone, you just want to get puck on net and hope for the best.

"Of course, chemistry helps because you know when you're in trouble, you can know where the guys are. But right now, it's desperation on every line."

Happy to help

He hasn't worked anything but the practice ice, but goalie Mark Visentin isn't turning his nose up at his current backup gig with the Coyotes.

"The biggest thing for me is to come here, work hard every day and do anything I can to help the team win when called upon," he said. "I think it's very exciting for myself. You work your whole life to get here. I'm just enjoying it but at the same time, it's a lot of work and just trying to stay focused."

Visentin was recalled on an emergency basis March 25 from the American Hockey League when No. 1 Mike Smith went down with an apparent right knee injury. Thomas Greiss has taken over the starting duties, but the face time with the big club is a worthwhile experience for Visentin, who had appeared in the most games (44) among the goalies in Portland.

Watch: Coyotes focus on themselves

The Coyotes are competing with the Dallas Stars for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
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"The first day I got here, they all welcomed me with open arms and it's a great atmosphere to be around and everybody's here for the same reason," Visentin said. "So it's cool to be around and definitely once you get your feet wet here for a week, you definitely feel a part of the team."